Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-29

We take pleasure in announcing to om
readers that we will soon begin the pub
ication of a charming serial, by ''The
Duchess who has the reputation OF
writing the most popular novels of the
day.
Perhaps the best preserved anonymity
of recent years is that OF the so-styled
Duchess, the author of ''Phyllis,'
"Molly Bawn,' etc. Every now and
real name Of the writer, and, strange to
say, these announcements are usually dia-
metrically opposite to one another. At
one time the Duchess" IS a man; at an
other time she is q woman; now she is
old and ugly; now young and pretty. 1t
was stated few weeks ago, with a great
deal of fuss and feathers. that the secret
was out at last. Tie Duchess" had
been discovered at WO0iwich, England.
She was a Miss Elaine Lanr1vorth, a spin
ster, and, en- PEASANT, re- i-haired. But
the Duchess writes to saE shat she isn't
anything of the sort -ther elaine
Langworth," nor ''spinsttr," nor ''red-
haired"
ST am an Irish lady, living in the south
of Ireland (Milleen) For reasons known
only to myself [ do not wish my name
made public. I had newspaper from
America this morning which tells Of
New York lady who likes to think she is
1. l am fast losing my identity, and
shall soon have to apply to my friends to
tell me who am. I do not belong to
your country and have never as yet had
the pleasure of visiting America. Any
thing you can do in an editorial way to
defend me against the above mentioned
claimants will be appreciated"
This leaves the identity of The Ouch
ess' as indefinite as ever. In any event,
there is 10 question of the popularity of
her ROYALS; and in "VALERIE" her previ-
Gus reputation is fully maintained.
The plot of thestory is simple: Valerie.
living with her uncle in the country, be-
comes engaged to Louis Charters, q
young man withoutmOney, expectations,
or prospects of future success. Being
out one day, in q severe shower, she was
met by handsome cavalier, Max Beau
regard, captain in the army, who gal
lantly took her on his horse and carried
her to the residence of his Colonels wife.
1t was case of love at first sight, bat
Captain BeaTegard was ordered to Afri-
ca, and Valerie was taken to London by
worldly-minded aunt, who brought her
out, and Valerie soon became the belle of
the day. A sutton, in the person of As
ton Lawford, rich and vulgar, appears
on the scene; and Valerie having mean
while given Louis Charters his c0aqe.
tacltly accepts the attention of Lawford,
fearing to reveal her love for Beauregard.
who is younger son, and therefore not
eligible in the eyes of her aunt. Beau
regard returns from the wars, having
been promoted for gallant and meritori-
Gus services in the field, and becomes a
popular hero.
The plot of the story hinges on the re-
ceipt, by Valerie, of letter from Aston
Lawford, asking her hand in marriage.
Valerie, without the knowledge of her
aunt, returns decided refusal. Within
an hour news is received of the death of
Colonel Beauregard's elder brother. the
former thus becoming peer and owner
of vast possessions. The tongue of envy
and malice at one proclaimed that Law
ford was rejected because Beauregard
was now more eligible.
For the de7aOatnlent of the romance we
refer our readers to the story, as it will
appear in these columns.